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Sunday, December 30, 2012

Manito Tap House

For over a year now, I've been wanting to try Manito Tap House. I've read about it in The Inlander Menu, been told by my coworkers, and seen advertisements everywhere but have yet to actually go. Well that changed today when I was CRAVING a burger, thanks to Food Network and didn't know where to go to ease my need for something juicy and delicious. Not only was the craving satisfied, I was disappointed with myself that I haven't been before.

I am pleased to inform you that this burger did the trick, plus some. It didn't just hit the spot, it was INCREDIBLE. If you've seen How I Met Your Mother, you'll understand exactly how good this burger was to me. Marshall said it best on his quest to find the perfect burger in the place with the green door and red neon sign, "Just a Burger? Just a burger. Robin, it’s so much more than "just a burger." I mean…that first bite—oh, what heaven that first bite is. The bun, like a sesame freckled breast of an angel, resting gently on the ketchup and mustard below, flavors mingling in a seductive pas de deux. And then…a pickle! The most playful little pickle! Then a slice of tomato, a leaf of lettuce and a…a patty of ground beef so exquisite, swirling in your mouth, breaking apart, and combining again in a fugue of sweets and savor so delightful. This is no mere sandwich of grilled meat and toasted bread, Robin. This is God, speaking to us in food."Ok, so the burger didn't have a pickle, but the rest was pretty spot on.

Tap House Burger with Yam Chips

Anyway... I ordered the Tap House Burger ($13) with yam chips and my mom ordered the Grand Beef Burger ($10, before add-ons). We couldn't tell the difference between the burgers, because they both used the same ingredients with the exception of the cambozola cheese and the bacon caramelized onion marmalade that came on the Tap House. So to make a true comparison, my mom ordered onions and bacon on hers with blue cheese. Unfortunately we were both so engulfed in our own meals that we completely forgot to try each other's burgers. But it didn't really matter because neither of us left disappointed. Both burgers, cooked medium rare, were perfect. Beautifully pink in the middle, but not rare, yet juicy and delicious.

Since I never tried my mom's burger with the onions and bacon, I can only speak to my marmalade slathered beef between a bun. It sure was tasty! I will definitely be going back for my next burger craving as well as their ultimate beer selection. Before I get to my favorite drink of choice, beer, let me tell you about the wonderment of the sides that sat neatly along side our burgers. The Yam Chips were to die for. They were tasty with just the right amount of salt, but kept the integrity of the yam and would make a perfect snack alone with a side of micro. My mom chose the house soup, Jalepeno Cheddar. Not only do I want the recipe for that creamy and spicy addition, I would make enough soup at a time to always have it on hand. What made an even better side? The yam chips dipped into the soup. Mmm... mmm... Good!

Half of the taps and the keg fridge behind it

Ok, finally... onto the beer. The tap selection is crazy! In college, there was a bar on campus that had 44 rotating taps. It was the place to go for a quick drink or a celebration after finals. My friends and I made it a goal to "tap out" meaning we tried every tap before our college career. Because we always accomplish our goals, we finished the tap out. (You caught me, it wasn't the goal, it was the beer that drew us in and kept us coming back for more. And believe me, we tapped out before graduation!)

Just one page of the Tap List

Luckily for me, the 44 taps I got used to in college surpassed. Manito has 50 taps and over 55 bottles to select from and none of them are Bud or Miller Light. (Bravo!) If you like trying new brews or are a self-proclaimed know-it-all you'll find something you enjoy. The menu is huge and while I was a little put off by the cross-offs and permanent marker changes, I can't imagine managing a large list like this and not needing to make change fairly often. Still, I wish it was done in a classier manner.

While there, I had Rogue Ale Honey Mead and Tieton Cider Works Cherry Cider and my mom had North Coast Old Rasputin Imperial Stout on nitro. The beauty of their tap list isn't just the number, it's the variety and the micros you can't find anywhere else in Spokane. It was refreshing to see and I've already made plans to go there for New Years Eve with friends (other self-proclaimed beer snobs).

Thanks for reading my rant and hopefully you won't just take my word for it, and experience Manito for yourself.

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About Wining and Dining

When I moved to Spokane in 2011, I quickly began to realize there were some hidden gems in the foodie world. In 2012, I decided that Spokane blog goers were really missing out on my sarcasm and my self-proclaimed excellent opinions so I'd turn one of my favorite hobbies, eating out, into another hobby, blogging! YAY!

Wining and Dining is all about the food, drink, service, and atmosphere of local restaurants. I'm by no means an expert at fine dining, but I do believe in a delicious outing, worthy of any Spokanite.